2025 We Are EMILY National Gala

Please join EMILYs List as we commemorate our 40th Anniversary at this year’s We Are EMILY National Gala! This special event will honor the incredible achievements of our organization over the past four decades, reflecting on the progress we’ve made in empowering women to lead and shape the future of our democracy. As we celebrate these victories, we also look forward to the vital work still ahead. 

While EMILYs List has been at the forefront of transforming the political landscape by electing more groundbreaking Democratic pro-choice women, the journey is far from over. Together, we will continue to push for a future where women’s voices and leadership are central to every level of government.

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• We Are EMILY Award Recipient

  

  The We Are EMILY Award honors extraordinary women who are making a significant impact on our nation through consistent leadership and inspiration to the EMILYs List community – which is now more than five million strong.

  EMILYs List is thrilled to announce that we will honor and hear from EMILYs List Founder and Chair Emerita at this year’s We Are EMILY!

  Before Ellen Malcolm founded EMILYs List 40 years ago, no Democratic woman had ever been elected to the Senate in her own right. In 1985, Ellen and a small group of friends decided to change that by developing a new political strategy. To give women candidates credibility and the resources to win, they decided to raise early money and called their organization EMILYs List (Early Money Is Like Yeast, it “makes the dough rise”). They created a new concept in political fundraising — a donor network that encouraged members to contribute to the candidates EMILYs List recommended.

  They gathered in Ellen’s basement, rolodexes in hand, to send letters to friends asking them to join. From that simple beginning, EMILYs List has grown into a 5-million-member community and is widely recognized as one of the most powerful political organizations in the country. Ellen served as EMILYs List’s president for 25 years.

  Ellen is a veteran Democratic activist and fundraiser who began her career as an organizer at Common Cause and later served as press secretary for the National Women’s Political Caucus. In 1980, Ellen went to work at the White House as the press secretary for President Jimmy Carter’s special assistant for consumer affairs. After leaving the White House, Ellen earned a Master’s in Business Administration from George Washington University.

  Like Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, Ellen is a recipient of Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Margaret Sanger Award — the organization’s highest honor — which is “presented annually to recognize leadership, excellence, and outstanding contributions to the reproductive health and rights movement.” Ellen has been named one of the most influential women in America by Vanity Fair, one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year, one of Ladies’ Home Journal’s 100 Most Important Women in America, and one of Time magazine’s 50 Women Who Made American Political History. In 2014, Ellen was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the American Association of Political Consultants.

  In 2003, Ellen helped create America Coming Together (ACT), a nationwide organization dedicated to empowering and mobilizing voters. Ellen served as ACT’s president in 2003 and 2004, helping to raise over $145 million for a sophisticated and personal voter contact effort in key states. She was also instrumental in the creation of America Votes, a coalition of progressive groups (including EMILYs List) that works together to register, educate, and mobilize voters.

  Hillary Clinton — whose historic 2008 campaign for president Ellen co-chaired — once told The New York Times that Ellen Malcolm is “probably the most influential fundraiser and adviser we’ve seen. I don’t know anybody who can match her track record.”

  Ellen is the author of When Women Win: EMILYs List and the Rise of Women in American Politics.

  Today, Ellen Malcolm continues her work to level the playing field for women seeking elected office and to inspire and create opportunity for women and girls across the country in her role as Chair Emerita of the EMILYs List Board of Directors. She is also former Chair of the Board of the National Partnership for Women & Families and is a former member of the Board of Directors for the National Park Foundation.

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• Special Guests

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• Schedule

  Tuesday, May 6th

  We Are EMILY Welcome Dinner		6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET Address provided upon RSVP

  Wednesday, May 7th

  We Are EMILY Political Briefing		Doors: 8:30 a.m. ET Programing: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET   Location: IBEW 900 7th St NW Washington, D.C. 20001   Welcoming Remarks Liz Shuler President of AFL-CIO   Featured Remarks Sharice Davids U.S. Representative from Kansas   Polling Presentation  Jill Normington Partner, Normington Petts   Election Myths: Fact vs. Fiction in 2024 Michelle White, Moderator EMILYs List Executive Director    Jill Normington Partner, Normington Petts   Rebecca Pearcey Partner, Bryson Gillette    Joey Teitelbaum Senior Vice President of Research, Global Strategies Group    Melissa Williams Advisor, Women Vote   Closing Remarks Jessica Mackler EMILYs List President
  Groundbreakers and Changemakers Receptions		Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET   Location: The Anthem 901 Wharf Street SW Washington, D.C. 20024
  We Are EMILY National Gala		7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ET   Location: The Anthem 901 Wharf Street SW Washington, D.C. 20024   We look forward to hearing from Democratic pro-choice women leaders from across the country and all levels of government, including:   Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. Senator from Maryland Gabrielle Giffords, Former U.S. Representative from Arizona Deb Haaland, Candidate for Governor of New Mexico Rebecca Haile, EMIILYs List Board Chair Jessica Mackler, President of EMILYs List Sarah McBride, U.S. Representative from Delaware Adele McClure, State Delegate from Virginia
  Dessert Reception		8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. ET   Location: The Anthem 901 Wharf Street SW Washington, D.C. 20024

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• Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award

  Named in honor of the dedicated and courageous Gabrielle Giffords, the Rising Star Award celebrates an extraordinary woman serving in state or local office. The award honors women who demonstrate commitment to their communities, dedication to women and families, and determination and civility that have been the highlights of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ career, both in and out of office.
  
  Here are our amazing nominees!

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• Tickets

  TICKET LEVEL: PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE - $100,000

  Invitation to We Are EMILY Welcome Dinner on Tuesday, May 6
  6 tickets to Political Briefing
  6 tickets to Changemakers Reception
  4 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
  Premier full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
  Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala
  Full table at a regional conference

  Register

  TICKET LEVEL: CHAMPION - $50,000

  Invitation to We Are EMILY Welcome Dinner on Tuesday, May 6
  4 tickets to Political Briefing
  4 tickets to Changemakers Reception
  6 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
  Premier full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
  Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala
  Full table at a regional conference

  Register

  TICKET LEVEL: 40TH ANNIVERSARY CHAIR - $40,000

  Invitation to We Are EMILY Welcome Dinner on Tuesday, May 6
  2 tickets to Political Briefing
  2 tickets to Changemakers Reception
  8 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
  Premier full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
  Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala
  Half table at a regional conference

  Register

  TICKET LEVEL: PATRON - $10,000

  2 tickets to Political Briefing
  10 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
  Preferred Full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
  Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala

  Register

  TICKET LEVEL: HOST - $5,000

  1 ticket to Political Briefing
  10 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
  Full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
  Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala

  Register

  TICKET LEVEL: SPONSOR - $2,500

  1 ticket to Political Briefing
  2 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
  2 seats at We Are EMILY National Gala
  Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala

  Register

  TICKET LEVEL: MAJORITY COUNCIL RENEWAL - $1,500

  1 ticket to Political Briefing
  1 ticket to Groundbreakers Reception
  1 seat at We Are EMILY National Gala
  Name acknowledged at Gala

  Register

  TICKET LEVEL: RENEWED MAJORITY COUNCIL - $300

  For Majority Council members who have renewed Majority Council memberships for 2025 only
  1 ticket to Political Briefing
  1 ticket to Groundbreakers Reception
  1 seat at We Are EMILY National Gala
  Name acknowledged at Gala

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  TICKET LEVEL: GUEST - $500

  Limited Availability
  1 ticket to Groundbreakers Reception
  1 seat at We Are EMILY National Gala

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• Venue Information

  Location

  The Anthem is located at 901 Wharf Street SW Washington, D.C. 20024.

  Security
  Please note that all guests will need to show a government-issued photo ID and pass through an airport-style security screening prior to entering the receptions and gala. Please plan accordingly.

  Hotel Directions to the Anthem

  Please take the hotel elevator down to the G1 Level and exit through the main doors. After exiting, turn right towards the wharf and there will be EMILYs List staff stationed along the route to the Anthem for your convenience.

  Parking

  Please park at the Wharf Parking Garage, located at 20 Blair Alley SW, Washington, D.C. 20024.

  The most convenient location to park in the garage is in the yellow section labeled C1, C2, and C3. After parking, please take the elevators or stairs in that section to G (District SQ, Street Level).

  Parking Costs:

  0-½ Hour: $6
  ½ – 1 Hour: $11
  1 – 2 Hours: $23
  2 – 3 Hours: $28
  3 – 4 Hours: $32

  Rideshare

  Please have your rideshare driver drop you off outside of Mi Vida located at 98 District Square SW, Washington D.C. 20024.

  Metro

  The closest Metro station is the L’Enfant Metro Station. From there, you may choose to walk 15 minutes or take a shuttle from the Metro stop to the Wharf.

  Accessibility

  For accessibility accommodations, please contact [email protected] at least one week prior to the event.

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• Contact

  Questions? Please email [email protected].

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All funds solicited in connection with this event are by EMILY’s List and not by Federal candidates or officeholders.